Sidewalk covering or protector.



No. 696,!99. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

- w. A. SCHMIDT. SIDEWALK COVERING 0R PROTECTOR.

' (Appliation filed Nov. 4, 1901.

(No Model) UNrTED STATES PATENT EFIcE.

WILLIAM A. SCHMIDT, OF MILWVAUKEE, IVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO AUGUST VOLKMANN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SIDEWALK COVERING OR PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 696,199, dated. March 25, 1902.

' Application filed November 4, 1901. Serial No. 81,036. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SCHMIDT, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sidewalk Coverings or Protectors, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in sidewalk coverings or protectors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of framework adapted to be placed upon a sidewalk during winter weather when the pavements become slippery and dangerous throughsnowy or icy coatings thereon, the device being of such construction that not only is an inexpensive structure provided, but also one Which can be readily rolled up when not in use, so as to provide for its being conveniently stored away in compact form.

A further object resides in an improved construction whereby the ditferent slats may be readily disconnected from or attached to each other, thereby providing a convenient means for either increasing or decreasing the length of the covering.

With the above and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through one of the slats. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the couplings; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through one of the slats, showing a modi fied form of construction.

The covering is made up of a series of slats 6, composed, preferably, of wood, said slats having their opposed longitudinal edges suitably spaced apart. The slats so disposed are connected by a series of coupling devices linked together and which are of such construction as to afford a sufficient degree of flexibility to the covering to permit said covering to be rolled up and stored away when not in use. Each coupling consists of a bottom bar 7, provided near opposite ends with upwardly-extending fingers 8 8, which are adapted to receive a slat therebetween and are preferably forced or embedded in opposite side edges of the slats. Each coupling, therefore, is of U-shaped form. The upper ends of the upright fingers or members 8 may, if desired, be bent downwardly and embedded in the top of the slat, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, so as to provide for the coupling being most securely held to the slat. The opposite ends of each bottom bar 7 are'ex tended beyond the upwardly-extending fingers 8, and one of these extended ends is formed'with a hook 9 and the opposite extended end with a loop 10. The slats, with the couplings secured thereto, are arranged so that the hook of a coupling secured to one of the slats will engage the loop of a coupling of the next slat on one side and the loop of the first-referred-to coupling will engage the hook of the coupling of the slat on the opposite side, and so on throughout the series, the engaging hooks and loops being disposed in the spaces between the slats.

In the drawings I have shown two lines of the couplings. I do not, however, wish to be understood as restricting myself specifically to this arrangement, inasmuch as it is obvious that only one line might'be used or any number of lines in excess of two lines employed without departing from the spirit and it is desired to disconnect the hook from the loop, the said hook is turned sufficiently to bring its end again into register with therecess 11, when, of course, said hook can be slid laterally outwardly in the recess and out of engagement with the loop.

By my invention it will be seen that I provide a sidewalk-covering which is simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture,

'and strong and enduring in character. It is also of such construction that it may be rolled up without diificulty, and thus stored away in compact form while not in use, and it furthermore involves a construction capable of permitting slats to be readilyadded to or taken from the covering, so as to either increase or decrease the length of said covering.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I showa modified form of construction wherein an additional upwardly-extending finger (designated by the numeral 12) projects upwardly from the bottom bar 7, preferably at a point centrally between the fingers S 8. This intermediate finger passes into the slat, and thereby serves very materially to assist in holding the coupling securely to the slat.

While I have shown one extended end of the coupling as provided with a hook and the other extended end thereof provided with a loop, yet I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself thereto, inasmuch as in the broad sense of my i nvention the coupling may consist of the bottom bar arranged beneath the slat and the upwardly-extending fingers secured to the slat, with the extended ends of the bottom bar provided with any means for pivot ally connecting the same to the extended ends of the next adjacent couplings.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination with a series of slats square or rectangular in cross-section, and so arranged as to leave spaces between opposed longitudinal edges thereof, of couplings secured to the slats, each coupling being of U-shaped form, the horizontal or bottom member thereof extending beneath the slat, and the upright members thereof extending upwardly against opposite side edges of the slat, and the said bottom member having its ends extended beyond the upright members of the coupling, the said extended ends being pivotally connected to the extended ends of the couplings of the next adjacent slats.

2. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination with a series of slats, square or rectangular in cross-section, and so arranged as to leave spaces between opposed longitudinal edges thereof, of couplings secured to the slats, each coupling being of U-shaped form, the horizontal or bottom member thereof extending beneath the slat, and the upright members thereof extending upwardly against opposite side edges of the slat, and the said bottom member having its ends extending beyond the upright members of the coupling, one of said extended ends provided with a hook, and the other extended end provided with a loop, the hook of the coupling of one slat engaging the loop of the coupling of the next adjacent slat on one side, and the loop of the coupling of the first-mentioned slat engaged by the hook of the coupling of the next adjacent slat on the opposite side.

3. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination with a series of slats so arranged as to leave spaces between opposed longitudinal edges thereof, of couplings secured to the slats, each coupling consisting of a bottom bar arranged beneath a slat, and having upwardly extending fingers engaging the slat, the said bottom bar having its ends extending beyond the upwardly-extending fingers, one of said extended ends provided with a hook, and the other extended end provided with a loop, one of the side bars of the loop on its upper edge being recessed transversely, and the hook of the coupling of one slat engaging the loop of the coupling of the next adjacent slat on one side, and the loop of the coupling of the first-mentioned slat engaged by the hook of the coupling of the next adjacent slat on the opposite side.

4. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination with a series of slats so arranged as to leave spaces between opposed longitudinal edges thereof, of couplings secured to the slats, each coupling consisting of a bottom bar arranged beneath a slat and having outer upwardly-extending fingers adapted to engage the slat, and an intermediate finger adapted to pass into the slat, the said bottom bar having its ends extended beyond the outer upwardly-extending fingers, said extended ends being pivotally connected to the extended ends of the couplings of the next adjacent slats.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. SCHMIDT.

Witnesses A. L. MoRsELL, ANNA V. FAUST.- 

